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How to Make Hummingbird Nectar (Easy DIY Recipe + Tips)

Image Credit:
Matt Cuda/Shutterstock
Written By: Robin Sweetser Gardener

If you’ve ever wondered how to make hummingbird nectar, the good news is it’s incredibly simple. With just sugar and water, you can create a safe, natural food source that attracts hummingbirds to your yard without the cost of store-bought mixes.

In this guide, you’ll learn the best hummingbird nectar recipe, what to avoid, and how to turn your yard into a hummingbird hotspot.

Why Feed Hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are fascinating, high-energy birds that need frequent meals to survive. While they naturally feed on flower nectar, a feeder filled with homemade hummingbird food can provide a reliable energy source—especially during migration and hot summer months.

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe (1:4 Ratio)

Making sugar water for hummingbirds only takes a few minutes.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup refined white sugar
  • 1 cup water

Instructions:

  1. Bring the water to a boil
  2. Pour into a heat-safe container
  3. Stir in the sugar until fully dissolved
  4. Let the mixture cool completely
  5. Fill your hummingbird feeder

👉 That’s it—no extra ingredients needed!

What NOT to Put in Hummingbird Nectar

For the safety of the birds, avoid these common mistakes:

  • No honey (can cause fungal growth)
  • No raw, organic, or brown sugar (contains harmful minerals) 
  • No artificial sweeteners
  • No red dye (unnecessary and potentially harmful)

Only use plain white sugar, which closely mimics natural nectar.

hummingbird eating from a hummingbird feeder

A Word on Cleaning Feeders

Please keep your bird feeders clean to avoid mold that can harm these tiny flyers. To clean a bird feeder and remove mold, soak it in a simple solution of 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of hot water. After a few minutes of soaking, rinse it with water and let it dry. Try not to use dish soap to clean feeders. A general rule is: If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t give it to the hummers.

Another important note about feeding hummingbirds: Over 80% of their diet comprises soft-bodied insects. So, if you want to attract many hummers to your yard, don’t use pesticides to kill the insects (as annoying as they may be).

Learn more about hummingbirds here!

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

In my neck of the woods (New Hampshire), we have only one type of hummer—the ruby-throated hummingbird.

Take a moment to listen to the call of the ruby-throated hummingbird.

They are fascinating little creatures. Barely 3 inches high with long, slender bills almost half as long as their bodies, these tiny dynamos fly at great speeds, beating their wings over 50 times per second. They possess the ability to hover and even fly backward. It is hard to believe that something so small migrates all the way from Central America to the northeastern U.S. each spring.

ruby throated hummingbird

Tips for Hummingbird Watching

Needless to say, one of my favorite summer activities is hummingbird watching. I have two feeders on opposite sides of the house since these little guys seem to be very territorial and don’t like to share. If one is at the feeder when another comes in for a drink, there is usually a squawking, aerial dogfight until one is chased away. By keeping the two feeders out of sight of each other, many fights are avoided.

To fuel their activities, they need lots of nectar and a great deal of protein, which they get from the aphids, gnats, mosquitoes, and other insects they eat. Their benefit to the garden as pollinators and insectivores, in addition to their entertainment value, makes them a worthwhile asset to anyone’s yard. 

ruby throated hummingbird at rest

Plants That Attract Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds consume half their body weight in bugs and nectar, feeding every 10 to 15 minutes and visiting 1,000 to 2,000 flowers daily!

Over the years, I have tried to fill my yard with plants that will attract them. They love flowers that are colored red and orange (I have had them check me out quite closely when wearing a red t-shirt), but I have seen them sipping nectar from plants of other colors, too. 

Generally speaking, they prefer to visit flowers that are tube-shaped, like bee balm or salvia. Their long beaks and tongues make reaching the nectar quite easy. 

Check out our list of plants that attract hummingbirds for more ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct hummingbird nectar ratio?

The correct ratio is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.

Can I use tap water?

Yes, but boiling helps remove impurities and dissolve sugar more easily.

How long does homemade hummingbird nectar last?

Up to a few days in the refrigerator, but always use fresh nectar when possible.

Do you feed your hummingbirds? Share your tips for attracting them in the comments below!

Backyard Birds

About The Author

Robin Sweetser

Robin Sweetser

Gardener

Robin Sweetser is a longtime gardening writer, editor, and speaker. She and her partner, Tom, have a small greenhouse business, selling plants and cutting flowers and vegetables from their home and lo...

Read more from Robin Sweetser

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Comments

<span>Charlene Vandini</span> Wed, 05/05/2021 - 18:11
I lived for 12 years in Deep South Texas, on the migratory route for several varieties of hummingbirds. At the peak of the migration, I used a gallon of nectar DAILY in my six feeders that attracted dozens & dozens of hummers. I advise buying feeders that can be disassembled and are dishwasher safe. The dishwasher water, I found, was hotter than anything I could tolerate by hand washing. My feeders were very clean by doing this. If you have bottle-type feeders, do invest in a couple bottle brushes, to scrub any nasty stuff that sometimes grows in the feeder.
<span>Karen Million</span> Mon, 05/02/2022 - 18:07
I'll certainly keep those facts about cleaning the Hummingbird feeder.
<span>Deni Halterman</span> Wed, 05/05/2021 - 15:34
Thank you for the cleaning advice. I have 5 feeders up since late February when we saw a couple looking around. We must be in the migrating path here in north central Texas because one day there are 4-6, the next 30 and the next day back to the regular 4-6. When we pull the feeders from storage and clean them, we use vinegar. I don't have any bottle brush that can get whatever is stuck inside so after soaking and rinsing the vinegar I use a couple tablespoons of sugar and a little water to swirl and "sand" the inside of the feeder. Rinse again and fill! We reduce the number of feeders when our 50+ Red Yucca plants and flower garden are in full bloom! Thanks again for your information!
<span>Keith Ege</span> Wed, 05/05/2021 - 10:05
I don't boil the water, just use hot water and shake the jar until all of the sugar dissolves. I replace the nectar every other day when the temperature is below 80°F/26.6°C; every day when above. If you use bleach (I do not) you MUST make sure to rinse ALL of the bleach off. I just scrub thoroughly with the hottest water I can stand and use a bristle brush to clean the sipping ports.
<span>Jennifer</span> Sun, 04/20/2025 - 12:00
Using hot water from the tap can draw out lead from soldering in the water pipes. That's why you're supposed to use cold water and boil on the stove or hot pot.
<span>Cindy Roberts</span> Wed, 05/05/2021 - 08:22
How often do you recommend changing the hummingbird nectar?
<span>Wayne V</span> Tue, 05/12/2020 - 11:35
I agree about not using Bleach to clean Hummingbird feeders! I just use plain dish soap and very hot water, and rinse completely. Never had a problem and I have Hummers feeding all the time. Also, I agree with another poster that the simple "disk" or "Humzinger" feeders are the best. Easy to clean and no leaking like the glass bottles! I have one large feeder hanging under my deck canopy and a smaller one outside my kitchen window. They are used every day.
<span>Ivy Catlin</span> Tue, 05/12/2020 - 06:24
I would not use bleach to clean hummingbird feeders. A much safer option is plain white vinegar. I use it full strength to clean the feeders and then rinse very well with plain water. As you pointed out, " If you won’t drink it, don’t give it the hummers." I wouldn't drink bleach!
<span>Alan T Conlon</span> Sun, 04/28/2019 - 18:32
Very interesting article on hummingbirds. I know a family of Sweetser's on Cape Cod. Just wondering...?
<span>David Evans</span> Tue, 04/02/2019 - 17:24
Is there a source/list of good Hummingbird feeders? There are actually a lot of them out on the web, but many just seem gimmicky in the shape, size, color, etc.... Can you share some info and sources on what feeders are appropriate? Thanks, Dave